This was a tough race, as it was VERY hilly. Scheduled start time was 9:15, so I was just in the middle of my warm-up when I suddenly noticed there were no runners in sight. I mad a B-line for the Fort, and arrived just in time for the starting gun (15 min early), which was a full blown Fort cannon. VERY COOL!!
From the start inside the Fort, we tore off down the back of FHH to the bottom, only to turn left and run back to the top. Once at the top, down we went again, this time down the north side of the hill. All of this in the 1st km. Patience was they key for this start...the overly impetuous would pay for an aggressive start later. The race proceeded through RMC, and was uneventful until about 3.5 km, when a stitch I developed coming down the hill decided to announce its presence with authority. Sadly, I had to walk a bit to dig it out, a my splits attest, but it was worth it.
Of course what goes down, must go up again, up FHH and back into the Fort. Halfway up the hill the temptation to slow or walk was overwhelming, having run the first 4.5 k reasonably hard. Those thoughts went out the window, however, when I saw Jo-Jo
near the top hollering to pick it up. It was everything I needed and more, as I passed 4 people in the last 110 metres, going uphill. Had a great chat with Jo-Jo after. Overall time was 20:18, 21st of 97, 3rd in AG. My splits are below, including the bad stitch lap (3). And for those who can decipher the numbers, the ascent was 137 metres, descent nearly the same, all essentially within a 1.5 km area of the race. OUCH!
3:55
3:50
4:02
4:30
4:01 (thanks Jo-Jo...4:01 uphill? I blame you for that
)
:clap:
